Manly P. Hall

Manly Palmer Hall (March 18, 1901 – August 29, 1990) was a Canadian-born author and mystic. He is perhaps most famous for his work The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy, which is widely regarded as his magnum opus, and which he published at the age of 25 (or 27, 1928)

He has been widely recognized as a leading scholar in the fields of religion, mythology, mysticism, and the occult.

Carl Jung, when writing Psychology and Alchemy, borrowed material from Hall’s private collection.

In 1934, Hall founded the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) in Los Angeles, California, dedicating it to an idealistic approach to the solution of human problems. The PRS claims to be non-sectarian and entirely free from educational, political, or ecclesiastical control, and the Society’s programs stress the need for the integration of philosophy, religion, and science into one system of instruction. The PRS Library, a public facility devoted to source materials in obscure fields, has many rare and scarce items now impossible to obtain elsewhere.

In 1973 (47 years after writing The Secret Teachings of All Ages), Hall was recognized as a 33º Mason (the highest honor conferred by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite), at a ceremony held at PRS on December 8th, despite never being initiated into the physical craft.

In his over 70-year career, Hall delivered approximately 8,000 lectures in the United States and abroad, authored over 150 books and essays, and wrote countless magazine articles.



Simply put, this is the most beautiful and complete occult book ever published. It represents a lifetime of research into the mythology, symbolism, and magical practices of countless cultures. From the secrets of Isis to the teachings of mystic Christianity, nearly every occult dogma imaginable is represented here. The book is full of giant illustrations, some of which fold out into a magnificent two-page splendor. This is the definitive guide to secret societies, famous figures, and more a must for every personal library.

Manly P. Hall is one of the most interesting people I have ever read about. He wrote the above book when he was 27 after spending his life researching primary texts at the NY Public Library and traveling all over the world.
He would give lectures while seated in a wooden chair. During these lectures, which would sometimes last for over 2 hours, he would not move or make any gesticulations. These talks would all be recited from memory without the aid of notes or any visuals.
Later in his life he would go on to hypnotize Bella Lugosi to help him perform scenes in a movie.

When asked by a fellow mystic, Claude Bragdon in 1937:
"Mr. Hall, how do you know so much more about the mathematics of Pythagoras than even the authorities on the subject?"
He replied:
"Mr. Bragdon, you are an occult philosopher. You know that it is easier to know things than to know how one know those things."

To listen to lectures, watch videos and read some of his many articles go here.

Also to read more about American mystics and weirdos, read Occult America by Mitch Horowitz. It is great.